Teen found guilty of raping 12-year-old surrenders bail

The incident happened in 2017

An 18-year old currently awaiting sentence for rape surrendered his bail today (Friday) and was remanded to Hydebank young offenders centre.

The defendant, who was 16 at the time of the sex attack and studying for his GSCEs, was informed he will be sentenced for three offences later this month.

Following a week-long trial held at Belfast Crown Court earlier this year, he was found guilty by a jury or raping a 12-year old in the Waterworks area of Belfast two years ago.

During the trial, both the girl and the defendant gave evidence - and both confirmed they met in person in the north Belfast park on the evening of May 17, 2017 after initially becoming friends on Facebook.

They also both agreed that the incident occurred in a wooded area in the park, and while the girl claimed she was dragged into the bushes, the defendant claimed they walked in together.

Whilst in the wooded area, the girl said he said to her 'do you want to do stuff?', to which she replied 'no', then he took her jeans off and subjected her to a sexual assault before bending her over and raping her twice.

She said at one point, he told her 'get on your knees', which she refused to do, and that the incident came to an end when they heard people close by and he pulled his tracksuit bottoms up and ran off.

This version of events was rejected by the defendant, who from the witness box denied sexually assaulting and raping the girl. Instead, he claimed they agreed 'to do stuff', that they had consensual intercourse, and that at one point he asked her if he wanted to stop, but she told him to keep going.

During the trial in February, the jury heard the girl admit that she lied both on her Facebook profile and to the defendant about her age.

The jury also heard from a doctor who specialises in young victims of sexual offences. The doctor examined the girl in the wake of the incident, and found abrasions and bruising in her private area.

Following deliberations which spanned over a two-day period, the defendant was found guilty by a majority of ten to two on a charge of sexual assault, and of anal rape. He was also found unanimously guilty by the jury of vaginal rape.

Earlier today, his defence barrister told Judge David McFarland: "He is present in court and available to surrender to custody to a young offenders centre, due to his age."

He was then remanded by the Judge and was told he will be produced at the same court on May 29th, for sentencing.